GARY, Ind. -- The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team bounced back as the RedHawks won a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference matchup against St. Xavier at the Savannah Center, 76-68, Monday.

TEAM RECORDS 
IU Northwest (13-6, 7-5 CCAC) | St. Xavier (9-9, 6-5 CCAC) 

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
1st Half: St. Xavier 34, IU Northwest 32
2nd Half: IU Northwest 44, St. Xavier 34
Final Score: IU Northwest 76, St. Xavier 68

IU NORTHWEST LEADERS
Points: VaShawn Sims (20), Jerron Tatum (14), Jared Johnson (13)
Rebounds: Tromon Weston (14), Jared Johnson (13)
Assists: Jared Johnson (9)
Blocks: Jared Johnson (2), Tromon Weston (2)
Steals: VaShawn Sims (3)

GAME RECAP
Jerron Tatum started the game with a three-pointer to start the scoring early on. St. Xavier went on an 11-2 run the next four minutes to go ahead 11-5. 

VaShawn Sims tried to get the RedHawks back on track after making back-to-back layups to make it 11-9 SXU. The Cougars responded right away with a basket then Sims drilled back-to-back three-pointers to give the RedHawks a 17-13 advantage with 13:03 on the clock.

The Cougars responded with eight unanswered points to give them a 21-17 lead. Brian Hernandez tied the contest up at 21-all with 8:25 remaining in the half after making back-to-back layups. 

SXU went ahead 34-26 with 2:37 left in the half. IU Northwest scored the last six points of the first half after two baskets by Tatum and a basket by Marshaud Watkins to make it 34-32 Cougars at the break.

The RedHawks went on an 8-1 run to open the second half after Tatum made a three-pointer and Tromon Weston slammed one down to give IUN a 40-35 lead. SXU responded with a basket then Jared Johnson knocked down a three-pointer and a layup to make it 45-37 with 15:19 left in the contest. 

St. Xavier got right back in the game after scoring six straight points to make it a two-point game with 12:45 to go. Jason Peace hit a layup then Hernandez knocked down the three to make it 50-43. 

Moments later, Sims made it 60-51 at the 6:49 mark in the half after scoring four straight points. Tatum made it 66-57 with a jumper but SXU would not go away.

In the next three minutes, SXU scored eight unanswered points to make it 66-65 in favor of IU Northwest with 2:42 left in the contest. Watkins, Weston and Sims gave the RedHawks some breathing room after making three straight layups to extend the lead back out to seven (72-65) with under a minute remaining. 

SXU responded with a three-pointer but IU Northwest had the upper hand after making four at the free-throw line. IU Northwest came out on top today 76-68.

UP NEXT
IU Northwest will be back in action Wednesday, January 19 as the RedHawks host St. Ambrose starting at 7:30 p.m. CT.